The Loss Of A Dog, Euthanasia Costs and Dealing With Grief

Unconditional love. The loss of a dog, euthanasia and dealing with grief may well be part of owning a family pet. Thoughts of what to do when a dog passes away is not a subject that many pet owners tend to think about. As humans we do the same because we don’t tend to think of our own deaths and preparation of a will unit later in life if ever for some people.

I’m not sure if we will ever own another pet when our beloved dog passes but we do know he’s had a great life and we love him very much. I would rather see our dog pass of old age in his sleep rather than pain and suffering. I still hold that close to my heart. When a pet dies, a part of the owner dies with the pet because there is a spot in our hearts that becomes the bonding of pet owner and pet.

Writing this post is bringing a tear to my eye as good memories flashback in my head. I don’t care who you are you the last thing you want to think about as a pet owner is the death of a dog. All the times you might have been upset with you pet, or wished you could go out with your friends but you couldn’t because you didn’t want to leave your pet alone seem trivial.

It’s a beautiful time when you make the decision to become a pet owner. Owning a pet is not cheap and I urge people before they hand over cash to purchase a pet or get one for free to please consider the cost implications to your budget.

My parents have had to go through losing a dog not once but twice. The dogs were like pals and wherever one dog went the other one followed. When one dog passed away the other dog became sad and lonely and in some strange way we think that pets know when their pal passes away.

When we walk our dog we speak to many pet owners and one guy I spoke to said his friend paid $12,000 because they had an ill pet. Some pet owners will stop at nothing to give their pets the full care they need.

Veterinarian Visit

Loving a dog is easy to do especially when you have a pet who loves you back. Your pet relies on the gift of love, health, shelter, warmth and food. I’m sure many other things but these are what came to mind. We’ve had our dog now for many years and just this past week we had to make a decision to take him to the veterinarian after we noticed some bleeding in the anal area.

The vet found a lump inside his butt and wants to send bits of it off for testing as well as check out many other lumps he has on his body. She told us that if it is indeed cancer he may only have 5-6 months left to live. I don’t think I felt my heart sink so fast in my life and I wanted to cry like a baby but I held it inside.

Your pet stares at you like nothing in the world is wrong yet you smile back knowing almost everything could be. They could do surgery but the possibility of him not knowing that he is going number 2 is potentially a downfall for us and steroids may be our own option.

After he came out from surgery he was well drugged up but very relaxed and wouldn’t leave our side. I had to carry him to the vehicle being very careful not to upset him. The veterinary assistant told us that the pain medications should last up to 24 hours and if he is crying to come back and get some other pain medications for the dog.

The cost of a weeks worth of medication was $45 and comparable to a Tylenol but for pets. We opted to wait to see how things were before spending that over the top amount for pain medications. Thank goodness we did, he was a champ through it all, I wish I had his strength.

Everything at the veterinarians cost money so if you are not prepared to save money in your budget every month then don’t own a pet. I’m not talking just food , but tags, vet bills, medications. We now save $115.83 per month in our budget as a projected expense and now we know why.

This veterinarian visit cost us just under $600 but something that we didn’t have to put on credit because we had the money saved up. We could have boarded him there for a few days for another alarming amount but we opted to take him home.

Needless to say he slept most of the day, didn’t really eat and was just very relaxed. We took this time to spend with him and comfort him so he knew we were close. There’s a certain closeness you feel when your pet is ill and you want to make sure you do everything you can to ease the pain.

The next morning was a different story, to be honest you wouldn’t have known he had surgery and was stitched up. This s the champ I speak of. He was back to his normal self, panting, tail wagging and wanting food and lots of it. It was like he lost a week from his life being out for the entire day before.

We were thrilled to see the vigour back in his body and two days in now and he is as active as can be. No more bleeding and he seems fine. We still have to face the results of the tests next week no matter what.

We are hoping it’s just an inflammation that can be treated. We even received a phone call from the veterinarian checking up on our dog, which put our minds at ease knowing how much she cared.

Euthanasia

While at the veterinarians clinic we decided it was probably a good time to ask about the euthanization of pets. I wanted to know what the procedure entailed (how to euthanize a dog) and the costs.

We also asked the veterinarian technician, what if my dog passes away at home and what to do. She was happy to help us and says more pet owners need to take an active involvement in their pets life from the time they bring a pet home right until planning for dog loss.

In a way it was a bit odd asking about death as it’s just not something we are comfortable with. Were we being cruel talking about it with our pet in the same room? Were we jinxing his recovery? All these questions popped into our minds but we knew that planning was the right thing to do. We wanted to know so we can make informed decisions beforehand.

The definition of euthanized is the act of humanely putting an animal to death or allowing it to die as by withholding extreme medical measures.

She told us that in the event that we had to euthanize your dog (putting your dog down) because he was suffering we had a couple of options. I was getting a chill down my back because I knew that if we are faced with this decision at some point it will be one of the hardest decisions we will ever have to face in our lives thus far

Euthanasia in Greek means “A Good Death”.

Keep in mind costs to euthanize a dog may vary depending on what your veterinarian charges, but ours said it is a standard price for most. I’m not aware of any free euthanization clinics or vets but you could always ask your veterinarian.

1- We could pay around $100 for a sedative for the pet which would give us time to spend with our pet, say our good-byes and whatever else we need to do to make the process a bit lighter on the heart. I don’t think anything could take the instant pain away of watching your pet close it’s eyes for the very last time.

2- We give your pet a lethal injection for around $90 and your pet will close his/her eyes as if going to sleep, stop breathing, go into cardiac arrest and be gone in a few seconds.

There’s no colourful way to put this, it’s the way it’s done and the way she explained it to me. You need to decide when the right time to let your dog go is especially if they are suffering silently.

In my head I was visualizing it all going down and my heart ached. I don’t know if and how I can handle this. Not everyone wants to stick around and watch she says as it’s just too painful.

Coping With The Loss Of A Dog

Grieving the loss of a pet is going to be something I will experience one day and I don’t think there is anything that can prepare me for that moment except for knowing he’s in a better place. Every pet deserves the respect, love and dignity like any other pet or human when your dog dies.

If you know someone whose dog passed away and wonder, what do I say, well the answer is simple. I would simply say, sorry for your loss and you can address the pet’s name and maybe some good times you can reminisce about when you were around the pet. I know that if and when our dog passes away that we want to think only good memories of our true friend and our times together.

It won’t be easy coping if we are faced with the loss of our dog so we will have to remove the pet bed, bowls, leash all the memories that surround us and put them to rest as well. We have lots of photos, plenty of good memories in our minds, in our hearts and surrounding us.

Pet After-care

Our veterinarian did mention there are places that you can hold communal cremation if you would like to go that route. I did a bit of research after she gave me some information. You can have your pet cremated either with other pets and have his/her remains returned to you or have your pet cremated alone and the ashes returned.

I also know some pet owners who simply have a burial ceremony on their property and bury the pet after goodbyes, especially if a pet passes away in their sleep. It’s not uncommon to see pet owners set up a dog grave so the memory of their pet lives on.

Through online research I found an actual pet cemetery called Gateway Lakeview between Ottawa and Kingston on the shores of Graham Lake with a location in Toronto, Ontario as well. It was opened in 1987 after a family decided to give their pets a place to rest and today 22 years later they have revolutionized the aftercare industry for pets in Canada. They adhere to the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories IAPCC.

Gateway provides services including communal and individual cremations, viewing and visitation facilities, and a variety of memorial products.

I don’t know the actual cost of the cremation but they do offer pricing on some of the products they do sell. You can choose from various granite textured urns priced at around $35 or a hand crafted cedar urn priced from $55-$85 for larger dogs.

There are also many other memories of your pet they offer such as precious paws which is a clay paw print for reasonable prices. Alternatively you can search Amazon to see what products they offer for pet loss. Gateway also have a free pet memorial online called the Gateway On-line Memorial Park where you can share memories of your pet.

We started The Bridge On-line Memorial Park as a way for you and your family to memorialize your pet, any time you want, any where you want. Visit your own pet or someone else’s. Take a stroll through the Park and visit some close friends who’ve crossed over.

Check your area listings to see if you have a similar pet after-care facility near you offering the services you need after the loss of a dog. Another great source of information on pet loss is at Pet Loss Matterswhich is operated by Bunny Hankers out of the UK a pet owner who has spent the last few years researching everything she needed about pet loss.

Pet Loss Poem

The more I researched about pet loss I was finding this poem all over the internet so I believe a blog post about the loss of a dog should always have this lovely poem for those that visit and read what you are sharing and grieving a dog. The author of this poem is unknown but whoever wrote had a deep love and knew that those mourning a pet it would bring a smile and hope back to their life.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth.It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of it’s many colours.Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land ofmeadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather.The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. they play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing. They are not with their specialperson who loved them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when onesuddenly looks up ! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group!You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you will take him or her in your arms and embrace. Our face is kissed again and again and again, and you lookonce more into the eyes of your trusting pet. The you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.never again to be separated.

Author Unknown

The loss of a dog and dealing with the grief that follows will be tough for any pet owner. Making a decision to put down your dog through euthanasia is something that may well break your heart. As pet owners we need to be prepared to show our dog that we love him very much and will do our very best to take care of him until the end. We love you buddy!

Have you lost a pet and want to share your story or memories, please share them below. Were your prepared to pay for the costs involved with your animals illness if any? Do you have any pet keepsakes?

I’m from the UK and now a recent permanent resident in Canada. I bought my first house at the age of 21 after University then my second at the age of 24. I’ve always been fascinated with personal finance, savings, learning to make money and watch it grow while combating debts along the way. Canadian Budget Binder is a place where I get to share my experiences with personal finance and learn about yours along the way. I hope you stick around and check me out on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest where I am active on all social media sites. Cheers, Mr.CBB

Comments

This “if you are not prepared to save money in your budget every month then don’t own a pet.” My brother is a vet and it is really, really disappointing how often people get animals that they really cannot afford. People also lash out at veterinarians for the cost of things, because they aren’t prepared. I sometimes wonder if it has anything to do with our free healthcare, so that people do not appreciate what it costs to get an x-ray, or be hooked to an IV machine, etc.

We had to euthanize our dogs (they were both old, had spent their lives together, and we didn’t want Duce to experience the pain of being without Boomer) when one got sick, the other wasn’t well either. It was horrible, but it was the most humane thing to do in that situation. That was 10 years ago, and we’re just now feeling ready, emotionally, to consider another dog. Dogs truly do become a part of the family.

Tears in my eyes, a tiny 2 pound puppy in my lap and a 40 pound hound dog at my feet. It is a special kind of heartbreak when a dog leaves your life. They are so loyal, sticking by your side no matter what. Making the choice to put them down is so hard.

Thank you for this Mr CBB. We just went through this in April with our amazing ShihTzu, Elwood. He was 15 years old. Our vets are/were amazing with both of our dogs ( we had to euthanize Jake in January 2011 at 14.5 years old), and we chose to stay with them as they were injected, holding them and hugging them til they were gone….they were such very very good dogs, it was the least we could do, in our eyes.
It’s been 7 weeks since our Elwood left us, but his bed is still in the living room, and his dishes are still on the counter, the leashes by the door…sigh….we’re just not ready…. And I am crying my eyes out as I write this……

For about 3 years before he passed away, Elwood was on special food (kangaroo based, as he was allergic to everything), and on antifungal meds for skin issues and prednisone..close to $200/month or so. We did have a pet budget, so we were okay, but I know so many who don’t.

Both our Jake and Elwood were cremated and their ashes spread over a field west of Ottawa, that is strictly used for this…as soon as I was up to it, I made a PhotoBook for each of them so we would have many pics of them in one place. They were our first babies, as our son didn’t come along until a few years ;later. Jake was even in our wedding photos!

I hope the news you get next week is good news Mr CBB, and that you will have many more years with your pet.

I thought writing this post was difficult but I’m struggling to read the comments without a tear. It took me all day to read them because I knew it would be tough. I pray we get good news this week as well. Thanks for sharing your story.

Many years ago now, I had to put down my beloved Mimi… a free spirited, kind and loving miniature schnauzer. I didn’t choose to be a pet owner. My ex just brought her home one day with no prior discussion. Unfortunately, as the marriage deteriorated, he attempted to harm me by harming her and I ended up boarding her while I dissolved the marriage and got myself to a place where I could safely bring her home. I visited her at the veterinary office on a daily basis but keeping her safe was my number one priority and a driving force in my terminating the relationship faster than I might have otherwise. I can’t understand the mentality of a person that would harm either a child or an animal just to hurt their partner, but I am living proof that regrettably such people do exist.

After several years, and thousands of dollars of health care expenses, I finally found a vet quite by accident in the United States that identified the root cause of all her health problems and not just the symptoms. I had spent several years treating one symptom after another… not realizing what was at the root of the problems. I finally learned that she had liver cancer and was in fact suffering silently. I was offered the option of surgery but the chance of recovery was slim and it would be a horrible post operative period for her. I couldn’t do that to her. I wasn’t selfish enough to put my beloved pet through absolute agony simply to postpone my grief. With no time to emotionally prepare, within minutes of receiving the news, I held her and we said our final good bye. I was glad I had a girlfriend in the area to have a cup of tea and a good cry with. Mimi died almost a year before my mother would pass on and I like to think of her playing with Mom in the after life.

I had seen a relative allow their dog to suffer because they wouldn’t face stepping up and doing what needed to be done to be merciful. As a child, it made me very angry and I resolved never to treat my pet that way! Yes, putting my dog down was a gut wrenching experience for me BUT I didn’t want it to be about me… Mimi was the one that needed help to end her suffering.

Did I make the right decision… a resounding YES! Did I grieve, you bet. I know I made the best decision available for her sake though. I’ve never had another dog, nor will I. That was a once in a lifetime relationship for me. I cherish the memories of her but I really don’t want to ever go through that kind of loss again. I never had children so she was literally my fur baby and although I am sure my hubby would love to have a dog, he was there and saw what it was like for me when I lost her. We weren’t a couple yet, but we do have memories of the three of us going for walks on the beach and taking trips with Mimi together. Perhaps the best way I can honor her memory is to hold her in my heart now and forever.

As I was out of the country when the final decisions needed to be made, I was fortunate that the country vet offered me the option of having her buried on the farm property. I have not been back but I do know where her remains are. It’s comforting.

I pray the time is not here yet Mr & Mrs CBB when you have to face the closing chapter of your pet’s life. If it is, there are many of us that stand ready and willing to support you in your hour of grief.

I’m tearing up just reading this. My childhood pet didn’t die til after I graduated university, and well, she was never super friendly, so I was sad, but not overly so. But if my cat (now 3) dies..I’m gonna be a mess.

We put our family dog to sleep when I graduated high school. She was old and in a lot of pain, and we didn’t want her to have to live with that pain. A close family friend who is a vet took care of everything and was very great through the whole process.

They live such short lives, but there is so much love in those short years. My first cat was with me from when I was a baby until I was 16, he really was my best friend. It’s so hard to see them suffer, and it is the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to face when it came to putting down my own furbaby Maiden…she was suffering and it was awful. I couldn’t help but go through a range of emotions where I knew it would be better, but I didn’t want to let her go and I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing, or if she’d be angry with me. In the end I knew she was suffering and it was best for her to put her to sleep. I wanted to be selfish and hold on to her, but knew that was for my good, not hers.

Animals bring so much love and joy, and ask for nothing in return but to be loved back and to be taken care of, which unfortunately includes knowing when to make the decision to let them go.

I put my dog down when she was old and could barely walk and was sick it was so hard. Her name was Teka a very fat chiwawa. The thing with our dogs we never take to the vet unless we got to put it to sleep. We live on a farm so they have lots of friends and are free to run.

Aaw, this post is so sad. I’m glad to hear your dog is recovering after his surgery and I hope his results next week are as positive (in a happy way – not positive for whatever was being tested).

I teared up while reading your post. I love my dog and get a little choked up when I think about her passing away in the future.

I’m glad you posted this – I always see a lot of ads on Kijiji for pets that have become too expensive, or too big for the family. It’s easy to forget what the puppy or kitten will grow up to be, or how much work they are, when you are blinded by the cuteness

I know what you mean and it breaks my heart to see all these pets with no homes. It’s not rocket science, it’s common sense that pets cost money and more than just food. They are just as much a part of the family as anyone else. Thanks for your comment.

Thanks for the article. It helps to know others have gone through this with the same emotions as I. A long time ago when our dogs were pups, we made the decision to have a savings account for their health established instead of dog health insurance. I always have known that there were funds availble to buy the medicines and take care of the vet bills that we have had as they grow older. Our dogs just turned 12 years old in February and one is having stomach problems that have made me look into possible options if my Kryssie does not make another day. I hope with all my heart that he dies in the tall grasses on the farm looking over the land as he has done so many years with his sisters playing beside him. But if it is not to be, I pray I have the strength to bring any suffering he is in to an end. He is my constant companion and I will be there to hold and pet him to the end no matter what. My plan is to cremate him and keep his ashes to be buried with my own so he will never be far from me. Love you my precious Krysko!

Thanks for sharing this Krys. It’s hard for me to read because the story comes to life in my head even though I don’t know where you live, what your property looks like or your dogs.. it just seems so real when we are faced with options that are something we don’t want to do.

This is so sad! I never had a dog but completely understand how painful it can be to know they are living their last days. Like any close friend or family member, it is worth having shared so much with them, even with the pain at the end it will still be a positive life experience, they bring so much to your life.

awe this is so sad. It’s the worst feeling in the world to lose a pet, and even worse when YOU have to make the decision. I haven’t had to do it myself, but I did lose family pets this way growing up. You feel so utterly guilty saying good-bye, knowing they don’t know their fate (or do they sense it?). I’m probably going to have to be medicated when Pepe passes, and he’s getting up in age so I just don’t know when it will happen. All you can do is love your pets to pieces and know you gave them the best life you know how.

That’s exactly what I thought… because they have no idea what is coming and it hurts to think about it. At least as humans if we are ill and dying we know and communicate but animals… they only have themselves. Imagine being in a world where the only person that understood your thoughts, was you.

Oh, you’re wrong about this. They don’t just have themselves – not at all. They have every one who has ever loved them. They sense it and they know it – which really just makes it all that more heart-breaking. Best of luck

This is such a sad post. It was good to read but it certainly made me cry. I miss my parent’s dog who died just after I moved away from home. I have two dogs myself right now and I can’t imagine loosing them. My son will unfortunately have to deal with the death of a pet at a young age since he’s 1 and the dogs are 5 and 6. Most people have no idea the cost of owning a dog. We spent a lot of money on a surgery for our younger dog after he ate a sock and it was stuck in his intestine. We’ve spent lots each month on food and meds (heartworm and flea). Boarding them is a whole nother cost too, especially since my dogs are very large (80 and 90 pounds). I’ve thought many times as to what we will do when they do die. I’d like to burry them at my parents farm with their dog but I would have no way of getting the dog there after the fact.

I hope you have some wonderful times with your dog before he goes and thank you for sharing with us.

An awesome article, with much good advice. We’ve only had the one dog in our marriage but she was a good dog. We did what we had to do when she lost control of her functions and was losing her sight as well. She enjoyed her last car ride….. Mostly we have had cats. They all have had different personalities as do dogs. Bulldog(yes she was a cat….a lovely tortie) was hubby’s cat. Whiskey, a pretty light grey with white whiskers and dark roots, Francis, my cat…her choice, we think was part siamese, she just had that meow…Mooch, she used to disappear in the house, finally figured out where she was disappearing to when we pulled the couch away from the wall to steam clean behind it and found a patch of fur in one spot in Mooch white with black hairs, Gunky………our sweet boy, nicest temperment, he was everyone’s friend, the Inspector…. Sapphire(Saffy) our chocolate point Siamese princess, hated the cold and loved sitting on the heating vent to be warm….Cookie, my little girl, had a few mice to her credit in this house!! Suzie, a little black kitten with the sweetest green eyes, she was only 4 months old when we lost her, from the Humane society, was never healthy and fought to live but we found her the day after she turned 4 months, limp and barely alive, a fast call to the local vet on a Sunday morning and Dr Larry met us at the door. I was crying my eyes out and Larry was almost in tears as well…. Right now we have Stuart the fat cat, he’s sleeping in the sun in the front porch right now, but shake the bag of cat treats and watch him come to life!!! He lives for food and attention. Our cats have all been house cats…. it’s safer that way, all have been loved and all have had a very good life. I believe they will be waiting for me over that rainbow bridge some day…….

So very sad… It was hard to read this post because it brought back all of the feelings associated with my first cat who we had to put down a few years ago. He was so sick and in pain and there was nothing that could be done to save him. It was heartbreaking and truly devastating. Pets are family, no matter which way one looks at it. And I still miss him…

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. We had our vet put our cat down at home (nice since cars stress cats out so much).. I was grateful that the vet could be here in our home. She gave the sedative and then the injection. It was so peaceful and I wondered why some people suffer so much when they are terminally ill. I called my husband and said being at home and having the sedative was so worth the money. I was grateful to be able to pay for that.

Our vet didn’t offer to do it without the sedative. I think it is a wise use of your money and would give you some peace of mind whe that day comes …. Hopefully many years from now. I do believe the sedative also helps the vet do a better job with the final injection.

I’m sorry to hear your dog is unwell. Hopefully, your vet will have good news for you! Pets really do become family members. One of my good friends is still recovering from the loss of her cat. She was somewhat resistant to adopting a new cat, but she said it has helped her heal. Keep us posted, please.

God! I’m crying just reading this post. We put our last 2 dogs down – gorgeous, adorable Golden Retrievers – when they were very ill and suffering. Sobbed our guts out and any mention of having to put a dog down elicits the same reaction – instantaneously. After the last one, we swore we were never going to have a dog again. Simply can not stand the thought of going thru that again.

June 2013 we had to put down our 12 yr old Smokey. A beautiful siamese cat, who was very affectionate.He had been living with his older brother, (my son, who lives in the apt below us) for 3 years. He now rests in our back yard with Mouse, our chihuahua (12 years) and Bandon, the cat (3 years). Bandon was abandoned and found trapped in one of our apt buildings garbage bin. We rescued him and he lived with us for 2 happy years, and then died unexpectedly in his sleep.
Over the past 9 years of being a landlord we have re-homed about 14 cats, that tenants leave behind. Our family has taken in 2. Other tenants and neighbours have graciously taken others, and the SPCA have accepted the remainder.
We travel a lot now that we are retired, so we are only home for the summer. During this time we are foster parents for the SPCA. We take in momma cats and her kittens, and other orphaned kittens, until they are old enough to be put up for adoption. At times we have had 12 little bundles of fur racing around our home.
While we travel, we house sit (for strangers). Their main concern is that their pets are taken care of. We do it for free, and it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Their pets remain on their routine, and except for the electricity we use, it doesn’t cost the home owner anything. We save on accommodation, and get to sightsee the area.
Consider being a foster parent for the SPCA. Sometimes their dogs need a home to stay for awhile, to get socialised until they can find a forever home.

I can’t believe how people simply have no regard for pets. They are like family. We don’t just leave kids behind and bugger off… why do people do that? silly.It’s great that people have you to rely on my parents house sit as well now that they are retired.

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